Chapter 121

Max hesitated when he saw the founder relinquish control, that was why he made those remarks to Alivia.

During the meeting, his proposal to invest in the company called Book wasn’t about playing the waiting game; he was biding his time for the founder to reach out first. If the founder decided to keep a firm grip on the company’s reins, there was no need to fret about Book’s future. After all, no one understood its trajectory better than the person who started it all.

But clearly, the founder hadn’t grasped this issue, because according to the intel from Alivia, the founder was still in talks with several other venture capital firms.

Brielle, with only three years of professional experience under her belt, had been devouring financial knowledge since her college days. In four years of undergrad, she’d amassed more wisdom than some grad students do in seven.

The office was dead silent, the few people present barely dared to breathe. And there was Max, sitting in the quiet glow of the room, who after a long pause, finally gave a gentle nod, “Early next month, you’ll accompany me abroad.”

It was the second time he’d be taking Brielle on a business trip in a short span.

Brielle froze. The last auction event was common knowledge at the company, and many were speculating about his opinion of her. Now he was taking her on another trip, seemingly unfazed by the risk of sparking rumors.

“Mr. Dorsey, if it’s about Book, you really needn’t bother. As long as the founder doesn’t change his mind, you’re definitely not going to invest.”

“Brielle, what’s got you so twisted up?”

The subject changed so abruptly that Brielle was momentarily lost. She even thought she’d heard him wrong and, mindful of the two executives sitting nearby, she quickly composed herself, “What are you implying, Mr. Dorsey?”

“Are you trying to avoid the appearance of impropriety?”

The two executives sneaked a glance at Max, then shifted their eyes to Brielle, sensing something off in the president’s demeanor towards her.

Patrick coughed softly, signalling the two executives with a gesture that it was time to leave. Feeling like they were sitting on hot coals, the executives couldn’t wait to scurry out.

Before the door even closed, Max’s icy voice cut through. “Do you really think you can avoid this?”

“Bang!” The door shut firmly, and whatever was said next was lost to those outside.

Cold sweat beaded on the foreheads of the two executives, their backs slick with perspiration. They had climbed to their current positions by knowing which secrets to keep buried. The two 16:35 shared a knowing look, aware that Brielle was untouchable, at least until the president decided otherwise.

Once the door was closed, Brielle let out a sigh of relief, “Uncle Max, aren’t you worried they’ll spread gossip?”

“Don’t the people who sit in this chair have a bit of discretion?”

Alright, Brielle was thoroughly convinced.

Max could be unapologetically headstrong. She remembered the random call from him while she was dining with Kenzo, a flicker of hope stirring within her.

Was he bothered by her dinner with Kenzo? Was that why he kept texting and calling? Had he secretly listened to that long voicemail?

Still, Brielle was too timid, not daring to joke about whether he was jealous, fearing she might be reading too much into it. So, she chose a more tactful question.

“Uncle Max, if the Dorsey family wanted you to marry Alivia, would you?”

If Max cared about her even a smidgeon, he’d surely say no, but his response was, “I’m considering it.”

Those words lashed her like a barbed whip. It stung.

“And what if Ms. Alivia asked you to invest in Book?”

“I’d refuse.”

Warmth slowly returned to Brielle’s body, as if the heat that had been drawn out was now coursing back through her veins. Could one accuse Max of being unfeeling and callous? But from the start, she knew ordinary emotions barely existed for him. To blame him for lack of feeling was as absurd as condemning a tiger for its ferocity.

Brielle, adept at self–regulation, quickly shook off the brief hurt and analyzed the founder of Book.

“The founder is missing a crucial quality – a mission to serve humanity.”

The difference between wildly successful entrepreneurs and the average ones was significant. Besides the desire to make a fortune or look cool, the truly successful ones often had additional motivations, such as a deep love for their field or product, or a sense of responsibility and mission that transcended money itself.

The founder of Book was still above the average entrepreneur, yet unaware that his company could change the world. Such opportunities were priceless, which was why he could so easily part with control. To put it bluntly, his vision was shortsighted.

Brielle had just finished her analysis when she noticed Max standing close by, looking down at her.

Confusion in her eyes, she hadn’t time to react before he grasped her wrist and led her toward the break room.

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